Gaelectric Wins Major Deal in US Northwest

GAELECTRIC, THE Irish renewable energy group, has secured further transmission capacity in the US northwest, where it expects to invest more than $2 billion (euro).

The development gives it first-mover advantage and an opportunity to double existing power capacity in the region, it said in a statement.

"The company expects to invest more than $2 billion (euro) and form a number of partnerships in the region over the next six years to realise this aim," it said.

The latest transmission interconnect and service agreements, to move 960MW of power across the North Western Energy (NWE) and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) network to the northwest region, complement an agreement reached last year with Tonbridge Power to jointly develop the green line (from Great Falls, Montana to Western Montana).

Negotiations are also currently under way with Trans Canada for what is understood to be substantial capacity on the Chinook line, which would complete Gaelectric's transmission capacity objectives in the northwest region.

Gaelectric is active in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and North America, where it operates a number of regional development offices.